He Knows Us

My car broke down the other day.  It just wouldn’t start.  I called a friend who knows a lot about cars, and asked him to pass by and help me find out what was wrong with it.  Sometimes, just a little tinkering with the engine fixes the problem.  Sometimes.  This time, it didn’t.

He came back with a mechanic.  Instinctively his hands started going through different parts of the engine, checking this and that, making sure that every part was working as it should.  And then he found out the problem.  But even as he started fixing this problem he also started checking other possible problems, until he eventually found a bigger problem – one which, if I had continued using the car, would have brought a much bigger and expensive problem that what I had then.

Thank God for mechanics, good mechanics, who know exactly what they’re doing!  We can tinker around the engine, troubleshoot a little as to what the problem is, but only a good mechanic will know exactly what should be done, and more even.

Psa 139:1  For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
Psa 139:2  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psa 139:3  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Psa 139:4  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

In this psalm David was not saying “Lord, you are searching me and getting to know me”.  He said “You have searched me…know me”.  The Hebrew word for “search” is used for miners searching for gold, looking under every stone, every inch of the wall.  That’s who much the Lord has searched us – every nook and cranny!

The psalm continues and gives more evidence of how much God knows us:

Psa 139:13  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psa 139:14  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psa 139:15  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Psa 139:16  your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Even when we were still in the womb of our mother God already knew us.  He created us, He made us.  As early as those days every day ordained for us were already written.

Shouldn’t we be trusting Him to check our lives and find out what is wrong, what deep problems we may have and what solutions we need?  Should we not be allowing Him to lead and guide us in life?  Should we not have confidence in Him, in what He is doing to shape our lives.  Should we not believe that He knows what is Best for us?

Foolish Heart

I think I was just plain hungry!  I was browsing through the internet news sites, and saw this article in the Inquirer:  http://globalnation.inquirer.net/2672/reviving-the-%e2%80%98bicol-express%e2%80%99

The title:  REVIVING THE BICOL EXPRESS.  And I thought it was about food!  It immediately brought to mind the bicol express served in one of my favorite restaurants here in Bacolod.  But, alas, when I clicked on the page it was about the PNR reviving their train ride to Bicol from Manila.  Hahaha…anyway, congrats to the Bicolanos, the train ride from Manila to Bicol has been revived!  Me…I’m still hungry, and writing this blog.

Wow, the power of hunger.  It can fool around with our imagination!  Have you ever made the wrong decision because you were hungry?  Maybe you ate too much, or ordered food and forgot to check how much it would cost.  When we follow our appetites, without thinking, many times it leads us to do things we probably would not normally do. (ok, I have to confess – while writing this I paused, went down to the small store beside our ministry center and bought a 12 peso snack that would usually cost 9 pesos in a supermarket – something I wouldn’t usually do.  But, I was hungry!).  The power of hunger!  The pull of desire.  It can influence you to do things.  Unless, of course, we learn how to harness it’s power, and seek a stronger influence to conquer it. 

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

It’s true, isn’t it?  The heart – with all of it’s emotions, desires, wants and needs, is deceitful.  It will deceive us into doing anything and everything just to fulfill whatever desire or emotion that we have tucked away in it.  Many of us, if not all of us, have been “victimized” by the desires or feelings of our foolish hearts.  (Ok…I can hear some of you singing the Steve Perry song…foolish heart hear me calling, stop before you start falling).  Maybe it was hunger, a need, a love for someone, a crush…whatever our hearts felt many of us have fallen prey to it, and we ended up doing foolish things.

And, so, we need to be careful not to easily, and quickly, heed the pull of our hearts.  If our hearts are deceitful then who can we trust?

Jeremiah 17:10  "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Instead of trusting our heart, we should be trusting the Lord.  He alone can really search our heart and examine our mind, and lead us into the right conduct, the right life – a life that He will reward.

We should be careful not to allow our emotions or feelings to lead us.  It must always be the Lord.  So the next time we feel “hungry” for something, or even someone, let us first surrender our heart to the One who examines our hearts and minds, and who can lead us to the right path.

May 21? You Never Really Know…

Ok…I was going to post an article from one of my favorite Christian writers and preachers, Greg Laurie, on why tomorrow (May 21) is not the Judgment Day, as this one weird, attention getting, pastor claims.  It’s funny because this guy once predicted that last September 6, 1994 was judgment day.  Obviously he was wrong.  And he will be wrong again tomorrow.

Anyway, as I was about to post the article, I was going to write on the “what’s on your mind” box above the article and say “I’ll see you tomorrow, and on Sunday, for sure!”.  And I did write it, but right after I paused, and thought…hmmm – how sure am I that I will see all my “friends” tomorrow or on Sunday.  Not that I believe the prediction of May 21 – I don’t!  But this fake pastor being wrong does not make the coming of our Lord any less true!  As sure as our Lord ascended into heaven, for sure He will return for His people, and to bring judgment on the earth.

Acts 1:11  "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

But it’s not going to happen with all of this publicity.  And, most especially, with all the focus on this fake pastor.  When all of us are ushered into eternity, when we are in His presence, there will be no one else we will be boasting of except our Lord.  No one else will get the credit, no one else will be thanked, but God.  The attention this fake pastor is getting is a confirmation that our God is not glorified in what is happening.

But this doesn’t mean it’s not going to come at 11:59pm of May 20, or at 12:01 of May 22.  That’s the whole point – we don’t know, we won’t know, and the Lord will not reveal it to us.  Why?  God doesn’t just want us to be ready and expect His coming, He wants us to LIVE expecting Him to come, ready to stand before Him, any time, any moment.

Mat 24:42  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
Mat 24:43  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Mat 24:44  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

That’s why the Lord never told, and will never tell.  He wants us to keep watch.  Not like we’re all keeping watch if May 21 is the day, but keeping watch over our lives, living a life ready to see Him anytime.

You see, it’s not just a “judgment day” that we must be ready for.  We must be ready for any occasion, any moment, any day or hour when our Lord will just suddenly take us home to be with Him.  Our Lord is going to take us like a thief in the night.  And the whole point of our not knowing when is that He wants us living in readiness and expectation and hope every moment of our life.

So, if this May 21 prediction moved you to check your heart just to be sure, then it’s God’s way of telling you that there’s something to be changed in there, and we better not wait for another prediction before allowing Him to move in our hearts.

And so I ended up posting this message:  “I’ll see you tomorrow, and on Sunday – for sure!  But, at the same time, you never really know…”.  We don’t really know, right?  Isn’t the Christian life exciting?  Keep watch…Be ready…every moment.  And not with fear, but with hope and expectation in our hearts that the One who died for our sins is coming back to take us to be with Him…forever.

Friday the 13th?

I have a friend who is a resident doctor in a hospital in Manila, assigned to the Pedia section, who posted this in her facebook wall:  “Thank God it's Friday the thirteenth! No one wants to give birth. No scheduled c-sections and the mommies are trying to hold the babies in until this day passes”.  It was a day of rest for her, while for the superstitious it was a tense day holding the babies from coming out, for fear that bad luck would befall their babies, or them, because they gave birth on Friday the 13th!

Being superstitious is actually as tiring as those soon to be mothers trying to hold back their babies.  If you think a certain day will bring “bad luck”, then you end up being tense, always on the look out for something bad to happen.  A superstitious person tires himself/herself into making sure she does things correctly, or positions rooms and tables correctly, or whatever else he has to do, just to make sure things go his way.  It’s tiring, tense, stressful.  Why not just sit back, relax, and leave the whole day – your whole life, in the hands of a sovereign and loving God.

That’s why I’m not superstitious.  Not because it’s not allowed in our church or religion, but because there is no room for superstition in a heart that puts its trust in a sovereign and loving God.

Being sovereign means that you are in control.  It’s hard to live in a life that is controlled by chance, or by “fate”.  It is more comforting to know that your life is in the hand of Someone who is in control.  Just take a look at the whole Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation notice the control, the hold, of God in the lives of His people – Israel and the Church.  Even if bad things did happen, eventually everything else fell into place.  There is a peace that fills the heart of someone who trusts in a God who has everything planned.

Even in our personal lives God works the same way.  Look what it says in Psalm 139:

Psa 139:13-16  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.15  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16  your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Check out the last verse – ALL the days ordained for me WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE!  Talk about control!  What will happen tomorrow, next week, next month, has already been written!

So what about those bad days, the not so nice circumstances that come our way – does God actually want those things to happen to us?

Rom 8:28  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

He causes ALL THINGS, good and not so good, to work together FOR GOOD.  That’s how loving God is.  He will mix all circumstances, the sweet and sour, salty and bland, and make sure that it all comes out for our good!  Now that’s a loving God!  He is wise enough to know that trials and hardships also work for our good, and loving enough to make sure they all end up for our good.  At least for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Instead of depending on good luck charms, practices and beliefs, why not entrust your life to God and allow Him to have His way, to work out His plan in your life?

Luck?  No such thing – for me.  Friday the 13th, black cats, feng shui, oro plata mata…don’t need them.  I have a God.  He holds my life.  He knows me by name.  Each day, each moment, is His.  I rest in Him.

Jer 17:7  "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
Jer 17:8  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Touching gloves

Just read an article in the Philippine Inquirer website titled “Why are you touching gloves?  Is he your friend?http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110510-335601/Why-are-you-touching-gloves-Is-he-your-friend

Sports is competition.  You’re out to be number one.  And even if your opponent isn’t an “enemy”, or someone you hate, you go out there and fight like he is your worst enemy. 

That’s what Freddie Roach was frustrated about in Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Mosley.  They were always “touching gloves”.  Even though Manny was trying his best to knock out Mosley, it looked like the whole fight was staged.  Why?  Because of their touching gloves before and after the round would start. 

In sports you have to desire the top spot, the gold medal.  Being number one is the whole point.  If not, then you will always have lackluster performances.  Even if your best friend ends up as your opponent – in the arena the goal is always to be number one.  That’s why there’s no touching gloves until after the fight.  You see that even in basketball.  If a player falls to the ground because of a physical play, many do not help them up.  Why?  It’s competition.  It’s not time to be friendly.  Leave them on the ground.

But that’s sports.  You need fire in your heart, your animal instincts need to come out, and look at every opponent with a “lion heart”, seeking to devour and pulverize them.  That’s what makes sports exciting!

In life, though, it’s different.  Especially in the Christian life.  The reason why many people, Christians included, have many enemies, get into trouble and conflict, is because we look at life as a competition.  We hear the same things that coaches and trainers shout to their athletes – “go for gold”, “you’re number one”, “don’t let anyone beat you”.  And so we push our way through every situation in life, and push away everyone who gets in our way.

We shouldn’t look at life as a competition.  We are not out to be number one.  In fact, if there is one thing God’s word teaches us it’s that we’re number two.  Second to He who is the number One.  But not only that, but the Bible also reminds us that we are not to seek being first, but to always be LAST.

Mark 9:35  35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Mark 10:43-45  43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Yes, there will be conflicts, disagreements and painful experiences in life, even within the church.  This happens when our sinful human nature brings out it’s ugly head and pushes us to be number one, and brings out the competition.  But the Holy Spirit in us moves us to “touch gloves”, and reminds us that despite all our differences of opinion and character, God has given us the capacity to love, by allowing us to experience His love – a love that forgives, a love that overlooks sin – both our sin and the other party – and desires to bring out the Christ-likeness in us.

1 John 4:16-18  16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
NIV

And so if you hear that voice in your head asking “why are you touching gloves? Is he your friend?”. Say, yes, he is.  And even if he isn’t, God’s love compels me to love him back, no matter what punches he may throw at me.

Colossians 3:12-16  12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Ready to “touch gloves”?  It’s all by grace.

Anything can happen

I got this breaking news from ANC alerts in facebook:  RT @BreakingNews: Indonesia plane crash update: Everyone on board killed on impact, Antara news agency reports - BNO News

Wow, and I had just arrived from a trip to Cebu by plane last night!  My thanksgiving to the Lord for a safe trip became real.  I’m in my home, safe, all because my Lord protected me, and my wife, in our trip.  I heard there are families who do not travel together, just in case something happens, at least there will be one batch of the family intact.  But, you can never tell.  All I know is that every time I travel, by plane, car, or walking, I always seek God’s protection.

Anything can happen, anytime, anywhere, where and when it’s least expected.  Don’t mean to scare anyone who’s about to travel.  But every time I fly I always sit in awe and wonder how a very, very heavy airplane can stay up in the air, relying only upon two or three jet engines on its wings, making sure that it’s flying at the right speed.  I mean…anytime one of those engines could malfunction, or the pilot can make a wrong judgment about something, or…

I don’t want to say anymore…I’m scheduled to fly back to Cebu this coming July!  But, in reality, whether we’re on a plane, driving a car, walking in the sidewalk, asleep in our beds, or kneeling down and praying – anything can happen, anytime, anywhere.

Just shows us how we need to be prepared in our hearts for a time like this.  There is life after death.  Our life today is preparation for this.  What we decide today will tell what will happen after our death. 

Psalm 90:9  All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
Psalm 90:10  The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:12  Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

And there is one wise decision that we should make, just to be sure:

Acts 16:30  He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Acts 16:31  They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

Always There

My wife and I were in a hotel room in Cebu City, about to fall asleep, all the lights closed.  And then I noticed a few things:  there’s a red light on the television set right in front of our bed.  Then, there’s a red light blinking in the smoke detector above.  And then there’s a red light flickering on an emergency flashlight that is hanging on the wall.

All those red lights mean one thing – “standing by”.  The tv is ready to open at the press of a button in the remote.  The smoke detector is ready to blast its siren and turn on the sprinklers at the moment it detects smoke coming from a fire.  The emergency flashlight is ready to be used in case of a brownout.  All on stand by, all ready for use.  It was a relief to see all those red lights blinking.

God doesn’t have a red light that we can see.  But He sends the same message to all of us who believe in Him.  He is standing by each one of us, ready for whatever we need Him for, whenever we need Him.

Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength,  an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear…

Jeremiah 33:3 `Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

ISA 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

See the “red lights” flickering?  It’s God telling us that He’s always there, ready to help, in just one call, one prayer, one cry.  All He’s waiting for is for us to “press that button”.  Those “red lights” are all over the Bible, reminding us of how close, of how concerned, how loving our God is to be there in our time of need.

The red light is God Himself reminding us that He is always there.

PS 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?

Stand By Me

As parents my wife and I have been through a lot of bad experiences with our kids.  We have seen them fall and hurt themselves, standing beside them in the emergency room while the doctor stitches up their wound.  Through times of sickness, failure, hardship, frustration, we were there with them.  Even as they get older you stand with them through their heartaches and broken hearts.  You watch them cry, feeling helpless and weak.

And as much as you don’t want them to experience those things they are part of life.  And as if we have the power to take away those experiences in life and shield them forever.  We can’t.  It’s all part of our experience in this life.  All we can do as parents is to stand by them, with them, beside them, assuring them that we are there for them when they need us, that no matter what they go through they are still our kids, and we will do anything in our power to lift them out of their situation.

It’s the same assurance our heavenly Father gives us.  Never in His Word did God promise us that if we walk with Him, if we surrender our lives to Him, would there be a perfect life with no problems or hardships.  On the contrary He warned us about them.

John 16:33  33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
NIV
Our Lord never hid that truth from us.  In this world we will have trouble!  It’s a “given” in this life we live in.  This was God’s way of telling us that our hope, our source of joy and happiness, cannot be in this world, because trouble will always be there.  But, as our Father, He assures us:

“I have told you these things so that IN ME you may have peace”.  Even if this world will bring trouble we can still find peace in Him.  Knowing He is with us, the God who overcame this world, gives us assurance that we can get through any and every circumstance this world has to throw at us.

Yes, the hardships and pain of this life will be there, but our Heavenly Father will always be there to see us through. 

Isaiah 43:2
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
NIV